Well, it's finally happened, Nationeers. Our crack team of developer-monkeys (which, really, should be singular as Citizen Alpha has been the lead monkey on rebuilding the Nations) has made enough amazing changes to the site that we feel like we can sit back, relax a tip one or two back in the name of... well, OilersNation.

I'll get to some of the changes that you'll probably have already noticed here on the site in a bit, but first, let me provide you with some history.

You see, when Wanye hatched the scheme to start these websites, it seemed like a simple proposition. Build a blog, add some plug-ins, build an audience, and watch the trucks with dollar signs drop off cash every month.

It didn't really turn out that way.

We built. We wrote. And we made hilarious photoshop images. And very little happened

So we re-built, and wrote some more, adding the talents of Robin Brownlee, Jason Gregor and Jonathan Willis to the roster. Finally some people started checking out the site. Some of you started to demand things, like a functional edit button, and more, better content.

Then the site broke because we had too much traffic.

So we re-built. And re-built. Yes. Twice.

And then we re-built some more, to arrive at this moment: OilersNation 4.0. Because what you see pictured below is what makes this all worthwhile.

'We need an edit button!'

Well, readers fair, you have your pound of flesh. The demands for an edit button resonated across these hallowed halls for months and months. And every time someone said, "Damn, I wish there was an edit button," Wanye would become increasingly agitated.

You know that scene in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? when Eddie Valiant feeds Roger booze and he totally has that weird alcoholic relapse (pictured below)? That was Wanye's reaction every time someone said "edit button." And he would rant and rave and kick the air and demand things — crazy things involving origami cranes and the blood of young animals — until the edit button was in place.

But it's here. And as Wanye dozes silently in a corner covered in newspapers from the 1980s, I think it's safe to say that he's happy with our progress... for now.

I'd also like to personally welcome some of our new columnists, including The Towel Boy, MInister of the Draft, and Jeanshorts, back writing for the Nation in all of his glory. You boys are most welcome. Do us citizens proud!

But what's next?

What I can tell you is that lots more is on the way. Stuff you guys haven't even thought of. My stars, the things that we have coming next, you don't even know!

But I can't tell you any of that... Not yet.

Show me the Money

In the meantime, we're trying to hook up exclusive offers for Citizens of the Nation. On that front, we've partnered with River Cree Resort and Casino to give away 50 pairs of tickets to see Eddie Money on November 28th. And really, who can say no to Two Tickets to Paradise?

Not me. And certainly not you.

Peep the ad on the right-hand sidebar from River Cree, give it a click and enter your name to see this rock n roll legend. Which rock n roll legend, you ask?

THIS ONE:

Right. On. The Money.

Bingofuel is the handsome cyborg who used to pull all the levers behind the curtains of the OilersNation.
Now he podcasts and makes videos and has a real job.

Roger Rabit insults our intelligence though, and Gregor and Brownie have good opinions but are special needs when it comes to Funny.

I just can't tell you how much I am enjoying your witty, well considered commentary Craig. The next time I see you screaming at passersby outside the Tim Horton's on Jasper Ave, I must remember to commend you personally.

Sorry to thread jack but.....Through an Alberta Diabetes Foundation fundraiser my daughter's Bantam Hockey Team had Cogliano (who I think is the primary spokesperson for the ADF) out to her practice last night. He's a quality dude. He spent some time yacking with the coaches, autographed pictures for every player and came on the ice for the entire 75 minutes. Assisted with some drills, ran a couple himself, and answered some questions afterwards. He represented the Oilers and himself very well, I was impressed, the girls were in love, yadayadayada.

Sorry to thread jack but.....Through an Alberta Diabetes Foundation fundraiser my daughter's Bantam Hockey Team had Cogliano (who I think is the primary spokesperson for the ADF) out to her practice last night. He's a quality dude. He spent some time yacking with the coaches, autographed pictures for every player and came on the ice for the entire 75 minutes. Assisted with some drills, ran a couple himself, and answered some questions afterwards. He represented the Oilers and himself very well, I was impressed, the girls were in love, yadayadayada.

Was that at Kinnex arena last night? Or was he at another rink as well? I was there for the public skating after the practice that he was at and the kids and parents were still swooning :) Good to see him out in the public for a good cause.

-me thinks feeding trolls is not unlike like petting the sharks feeding on dead whales in Sidney Harbour. Only trolls have fewer brain cells than sharks and slower reactions. Still, neither are actually activities designed to keep you from being listed for the Darwin Awards. The difference between sharks and trolls os sharls bite sometimes but trolls only whine about things they don't like.
Now if the government got buzy and built more bridges for the trolls to live under, perhaps fewer of them would be available to wander through these pages.-

I like that he is still finding time inbetween burns to provide commentary on the team.

Its called passive-aggressive. 'Roid monkeys at the gym pull it off supremely well.

"Get off "my" machine, punk. Hey - how about those Oilers?"

The window of greatness for most of them is 4-5 years. Afterwards you'll see their face shots in cool places like the Real Estate section of the newspaper or "Sales guy of the month" ads for Londonderry Chrysler.

You seriously couldn't wait for the GDB to start this kind of debate? It would have been a prudent decision as you would probably have people actually responding to you instead of mocking and/or ignoring you.

You are right on your commentary on the team. Too bad we have so many poor contracts.

Who are the contracts bad for? The playesr? The player's family? The tax department? The guy who sells expensive cars? The guy who rents or sells expensive houses? The guy who's actually signing the chegues paying for themit? Haven't heard a word of complaint from any of those sources. I'm not complaining either since I don't drink beer, haven't paid for a ticket since 1992 when they became to expensive for me to buy, and only by one or two PFV's a year.

I'm not sure I follow you. I would say the contracts are bad for the current GM. The team has major holes and there is no cap space in which to acquire players who might help plug said holes.

Haven't heard him complaining either. The real problem is at the momen there is no one who wants to trade with anybody other than to make sucker trades like used up or never will be players for draft choices. Besides, it is a long time to trading season which like hunting season had defined start and end dates.

And guess what, everybody on the team is tradeable if someone needs the skill he possess due to injury, play off run, etc. Also every team has one or two contracts similar to ours, even the teams with little money to spend.

The negative is where does this guy fit in??? I hate to write this becuase I enjoy how the Oilers are known as a skating team however he doesn't fit in to this line up.

I know what you mean. I like him better as a winger. My guess is that the oilers wanted to see if Cogs, Brule, Gagner or Sully could emerge as one of our steady centerman. So far Brule looks the best in my opinion. I think cogs will eventually be a fulltime winger or not on the team. You could argue that hes young and has the potential to come around but how long do you wait???